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<\/p>\nIT'S that time of year again when school trip planning is well underway. <\/p>\n
While children are balls of sheer excitement, parents are often baffled by the amount of kit required for a few nights away. <\/p>\n
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For newbies who've never sent their child on school residential, receiving the kit list can be a bit of an eye-opener. <\/p>\n
But in the last 12 years, I've made every mistake in the book, so you don't have to. <\/p>\n
I recently overheard a conversation between two mums, who decided they would need to buy bigger suitcases for their children as they'd never fit all the footwear required for four nights away. <\/p>\n
I simply couldn't resist leaning over and telling them not to bother as, in my experience, you'll be lucky if your child even puts on clean clothes while they are away.<\/p>\n
I've been packing for school trips for a dozen years. <\/p>\n On that first residential, I diligently followed the kit list making sure my stepson had everything he needed for each and every outdoor activity.<\/p>\n I spent the week he was away congratulating myself on a job well done. <\/p>\n But when he returned from his trip, he was still wearing the same clothes he'd left the house in days earlier. <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n As I rummaged through his bag, I discovered most of its contents were exactly where I'd left it before he set off. <\/p>\n I realised that he probably could've gotten away with taking a tiny backpack, a spare T-shirt, a couple of pairs of pants, and some clean socks – and I'm not even convinced all of that would have been worn. <\/p>\n Since this first trip, the same pattern has only repeated itself whenever any of my sons have gone away without me. <\/p>\n One year, two of my sons went to a Cubs camp for a weekend, where they were told to bring wellies, walking boots<\/span>, and two pairs of trainers each.<\/p>\n Needless to say, I didn't bother packing four pairs of footwear for each child for two nights away. <\/p>\n One to wear and one for spare is plenty for that length of time – and neither of them bothered to dig to the bottom of their bag to get out the extra pair anyway. <\/p>\n My top tip is never to buy anything new if your kids are going away without you. <\/p>\n This is because you may never even see that new piece of gear again. <\/p>\n Only pack stuff you're happy to be trashed or lost, and then you can't If you've been given a kit list for a trip that's a while away, it's worth keeping any clothes that get stained or torn in the meantime, so they can be shoved in the bag when the time comes.<\/p>\n It won't matter if items like these come back soaked or ruined, because they were destined for the bin regardless.<\/p>\n Instead of trying to clean clothes that have been caked in mud, or If there's going to be a disco, and your child is desperate And don't forget to label anything you definitely want![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/newspress-collage-24440094-1697624352495.jpg\")
<\/picture>QUIDS IN <\/span><\/p>\nFlight attendant reveals her 12 pound shop packing essentials for every holiday<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/conceptual-travel-holiday-background-761067898-2.jpg\")
<\/picture>SUCK IT UP <\/span><\/p>\nThe very clever packing trick to get more space – and all you need is a straw<\/h3>\n
Most read in Family<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/mnkhf9-family-mother-little-girl-439310881.jpg\")
<\/picture>BE-YULE-TIFUL <\/span><\/p>\nBest Lapland day trips in December- with Santa meets, snowmobiles & reindeers<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/York-Chocolate-Story-Photos-March-2023-489.jpg\")
<\/picture>CHOCS OF FUN <\/span><\/p>\nUK chocolate attraction that\u2019s cheaper than Cadbury World & has free snacks<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/laura-hazell-16-year-old-853205434.jpg\")
<\/picture>SLIPPERY SLOPE <\/span><\/p>\nI’m a ski mum – 3 big mistakes parents make when booking a trip with kids<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/2023-journalist-hayley-minn-shown-851225709-1.jpg\")
<\/picture>OUTER-SPACE <\/span><\/p>\nInside free futuristic attraction with world’s most advanced cinema screens<\/h3>\n
really go wrong. <\/p>\n
covered in grass stains, just bin and save yourself a load of washing.<\/p>\n
to wear their best outfit, put it all in a separate see-through bag in their luggage so it's kept clean until the big night. <\/p>\n
returned, as you'll never see it again if it's not got your child's
name in it.<\/p>\n
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